Trauma
It is estimated that 70% of adults have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lifetime and up to 20% of those adults go on to develop post traumatic stress disorder. Trauma often affects three crucial areas: one's ability to manage their emotions, relationships with self and others and perception of self. Trauma greatly impacts how one views themselves and the world around them, including relationships with family, friends and co-workers. Trauma can lead to depression, anxiety and isolation. At Live Life Well Counseling we provide Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and have seen significant success with this therapeutic treatment practice. Please click on the link for more information. We also provide Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), which uses a narrative form to process past trauma.
Perinatal Mood Disorders
What are perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) refer to mood disorders occurring during pregnancy or within a year after delivery, such as postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. Fathers and partners can also be impacted by PMADs and experience mood symptoms and depression following delivery. 1 in 7 mothers experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum. Postpartum disorders can affect women from all cultures, regardless of age, income level or race. At Live Life Well Counseling we want you to know that you are not alone, there is hope and we are here to help.
Types of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs)
Pregnancy and postpartum depression is only one of several disorders that can occur during and after pregnancy. Below is a list of PMADs and symptoms that often accompany them.
Pregnancy or Postpartum Depression: symptoms may include anger, irritability, guilt, hopelessness, lack of interest in the baby, changes in appetite, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating and at times thoughts of hurting self or the baby.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety: symptoms may include significant worry and fears, often time related to the safety of the baby. Panic attacks may occur as well. Those symptoms can include dizziness, shortness of breath, pressure in the chest, tingling and numbness throughout the body, increased heart rate and fear of going crazy.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: symptoms may include intrusive and upsetting thoughts or images, the urge to engage in a specific ritual, often with the hope of reducing the anxiety, intensity and frequency of those distressing thoughts. Some of these thoughts and images can be very disturbing and at times can involve the baby. What mothers need to know is that as disturbing as these thoughts can be, they are very unlikely to ever act out on them.
Postpartum Stress Disorder: this disorder often occurs after a mother has experienced trauma leading up to, during or shortly after the birth. Symptoms can include flashbacks of that traumatic experience, nightmares, avoidance of people, places and things related to that trauma, anxiety and fear.
Postpartum Psychosis: (occurring in only 0.1% of new mothers) symptoms may include seeing and hearing things that are not really there (visual and auditory hallucinations), inability to sleep, extreme amounts of energy, paranoia and distrusting family and friends. This disorder can be very dangerous for mother and baby, therefore it is important to seek help immediately.
Pregnancy or Postpartum Depression: symptoms may include anger, irritability, guilt, hopelessness, lack of interest in the baby, changes in appetite, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating and at times thoughts of hurting self or the baby.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety: symptoms may include significant worry and fears, often time related to the safety of the baby. Panic attacks may occur as well. Those symptoms can include dizziness, shortness of breath, pressure in the chest, tingling and numbness throughout the body, increased heart rate and fear of going crazy.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: symptoms may include intrusive and upsetting thoughts or images, the urge to engage in a specific ritual, often with the hope of reducing the anxiety, intensity and frequency of those distressing thoughts. Some of these thoughts and images can be very disturbing and at times can involve the baby. What mothers need to know is that as disturbing as these thoughts can be, they are very unlikely to ever act out on them.
Postpartum Stress Disorder: this disorder often occurs after a mother has experienced trauma leading up to, during or shortly after the birth. Symptoms can include flashbacks of that traumatic experience, nightmares, avoidance of people, places and things related to that trauma, anxiety and fear.
Postpartum Psychosis: (occurring in only 0.1% of new mothers) symptoms may include seeing and hearing things that are not really there (visual and auditory hallucinations), inability to sleep, extreme amounts of energy, paranoia and distrusting family and friends. This disorder can be very dangerous for mother and baby, therefore it is important to seek help immediately.
Remember, we are here to help! Healing is possible with the proper support, care and treatment.